Sheridan Books

John Cutler, the author, is obviously a very smart individual...the problem is the book is written that way. If your not an aeronautical wiz, it's very very confusing. I am at present time using this book in school, and if it weren't for my instructor (who by the way has a degree in aircraft engineering, and is almost as confused as his students)we would be lost.

I am not an engineer, though I have an interest in designing an aircraft. I picked up the Spanish edition of this book in Costa Rica. It is very well illustrated and while technical is understandable by anyone with high school math and a serious interest in exactly what the title suggests. I must add willing to learn because it packs a large amount of information and knowledge into a small package. Very good cutaway drawings of medium to large commercial airplanes. Not specific to small private planes. If your're looking at aircraft engineering as a profession or to complement other design books without being too dry and technical, GET THIS BOOK. I'm waiting for the new edition in English.

This is a pamphlet. You'll get as much from the websites of equipment manufacturers. After finishing it, I realize that I don't "understand" boat wiring any more than I did before reading it -- I'm just familiar with a few more terms. This would probably be a good book for an entry level surveyors program, where a lot of emphasis was on what NOT to do -- because it certainly doesn't tell you HOW to do anything, and is full of contradictions.

more like a dictionary for electronics. doesn't really tell one how to wire your boat

This little, with the emphasis on little, pamphlet/book, is more suited as a cash register handout or fifty cent bargain bin item, than it is to be called a book. No disrespect is intended, however you cannot glean any worthwile information or expand your knowledge through reading this. I am an extremely slow reader, and completed the book in it's entirity on a 2 hour flight with time to spare. I am looking forward to getting Nigel Calders book on boat electrical systems as I thought his two on diesel engines and refrigeration systems for boats were excellent.

Written by professional marine electrical engineer and surveyor John C. Payne, Understanding Boat Wiring is a no-nonsense technical coverage of boat wiring standards, basic electrical principles, system voltages, the nuts and bolts of installing boat wiring, how to safely ground systems and more. Written in clear terms with an emphasis on practical application, Understanding Boat Wiring is a superb reference and "user friendly" resource which is enhanced with numerous diagrams to make its instructional information especially easy-to-follow. Also very highly recommended for all boat owners and operators is John C. Payne's Understanding Boat Batteries And Battery Charging.

This book is just rehashed material from many resources, It offers litle insight into the requirements of serious cruisers. This book exists mainly to push the designers own plans. One would be better sticking to the Pardeys books for indepth information. Likewise Hal Roths books

The title of Roberts-Goodson's book sets forth the premise that "Choosing for Cruising" will be a useful guide for helping readers to select boats and equipment for cruising and providing opertional advice. In general, it falls well short on this goal in several areas. To begin with, the book is rediculously brief, (182 pages exclusive of appendicies)for a text that sets out to cover such a broad topical area and there is much space wasted on delivering up platitudes rather than useful advice. In contrast, Steve and Linda Dashew's "World Cruising Encyclopedia" is amost 1,300 pages and every word is crafted to convey a useful point.

I feel short-changed by this book. Such fundamental issues as hull design, hull materials and rigging are glossed over in the most cursory manner. Take for example the discussion about hull materials. The author mentions glass fiber, steel, and copper-nickel, but spends only a paragraph or two on each. Aluminum and wood hulls are totally ignored and the important subject of osmosis receives only a tiny note. A discussion of keel types merits two paragraphs. In none of the 15 chapters does the author do justice to the topics he sets out to discuss.

The overleaf of the book trumpets Roberts-Goodson's boat design experience pointing out that over 20,000 boats of his design have been built, yet there is little evidence in this book of any real expertise that would be useful in making decisions about cruising. Given the brevity of the book, there is little to praise. The sections on interiors and engines are the most detailed and there are a few observations in these areas that one might not find elsewhere.

In summary, the book contributes little to the subjects of boat design, equipment, or operational aspects of cruising and is so elementary in its observations that it cannot be recommended.

The title of Roberts-Goodson's book implies that "Choosing for Cruising" will be a useful guide for helping readers to select boats and equipment for cruising and providing operational advice about cruising. In general, it falls well short on this goal in several areas. To begin with, the book is ridiculously brief, (182 pages exclusive of appendices) for a text that sets out to cover such a broad topical area. There is also much space wasted on delivering up platitudes rather than useful advice. In contrast, Steve and Linda Dashew's "World Cruising Encyclopedia" is almost 1,300 pages and every word is crafted to convey a useful point.

I feel short-changed by this book. Such fundamental issues such as hull design, hull materials, and rigging are glossed over in the most cursory manner. Take for example the discussion about hull materials. The author mentions glass fiber, steel, and copper-nickel, but spends only a paragraph or two on each. Aluminum and wood hulls are totally ignored and the important subject of osmosis receives only a tiny note. A discussion of keel types merits two paragraphs. In none of the 15 chapters does the author do justice to the topics he sets out to discuss.

The overleaf of the book trumpets Roberts-Goodson's boat design experience pointing out that over 20,000 boats of his design have been built, yet there is little evidence in this book of any real nautical expertise that would be useful in making decisions about cruising. Given the brevity of the book, there is little to praise. The sections on interiors and engines are the most detailed and there are a few observations in these areas that one might not find elsewhere.

In summary, the book contributes little to the subjects of boat design, equipment, and cruising operation and is so elementary in its coverage of the subject matter that it cannot be recommended.

...with the great female stars, he has written many biographies of Hollywood, Broadway and West End stars and yet there is a marked difference. His books on male stars are well researched, celebratory and complimentary. In contrast his books on female stars are either scant, slight or plain nasty.
Depending on the sex of your star of choice I would give him a wide birth, even if the star is male I would consider his credibilty; which is not great in my opinion. This book is scant, silly and a real missed opportunity. It does not do the great lady any justice whatsoever!

I bought this book based on the description "lavish pictorial biography". It has only 15 pictures in it. I'm returning it and shopping for a different book with more pictures.

A well organized book, but lacking a lot of information beyond very basic information. If you have never boated or camped, this might be the book for you. Needs to be updated with new information.

This is a difficult book for the begining boater. The author uses many obscure words and phrases without explaining them. No information is given about the author, but the British spelling makes me think he lives overseas. Perhaps that is why so many words are obscure. The experienced boater may gain something, but then he or she probably already knows most of the information in this book.

This book, originally published in 1976 is just to dated I.M.O. for anybody looking to cruise the caribbean. I must admit I don't know of any other book that covers all of the carribean the way this one does, but I would rather spend my money on more up to date guides. Would I buy again? NO.

The book is written by a British sailor using many nautical terms unfamiliar to even an experienced sailor. Much of the information is very useful, "IF" sense can be made of it.
By the time the book would make sense to you, you would have so much experience that you wouldn't need it.
I am halfway through the book, and may not finish it because it is so frustrating trying to understand his examples. In addition, the illustrations seem to be quite old, I believe.
Incidently, I have been sailing in the US for more than 20 years, and taught sailing for a considerable period of time.
Money is better spent elsewhere, in my opinion.

This book, written in tiny typeset with light grey ink (ie talk about eye strain) largely discussed coastal wind patterns and how they might effect a sailing race. As an inland sailor, I found the information nearly worthless.

The book relates the story of the author (Louise Longo), her husband Bernard, from whom she had separated two years before, and their five year old daughter embarking on a three week sail in the Bay of Biscay off the coast of France. During the night of October 5 Ms. Longo asserts that their sailboat was struck by two giant waves. The glass windshield of the wheelhouse shattered causing some minor lacerations to both herself and Bernard,that is,if you believe the story. (Regarding the credibility of her version of the events, I thought that safety glass is widely used in construction that resists that kind of shattering.) Fearing being struck by a third wave Bernard decides to abandon the sailboat and all three escape to a rubber liferaft. I just find this part of the story too much to believe. The sailboat wasn't sinking. It stretches ones imagination to believe that a sane person would abandon an intact sailboat fully provisioned for the relative vulnerability of a rubber liferaft with practically nothing on board! In addition, although there were no time constraints in abandoning the sailboat they take almost no food with them and only a very small supply of water and close to no supplies! A few days after their water ran out it starts raining and shortly AFTER this Bernard dies. We are asked to believe that he died despite having the opportunity of having some rainwater to drink. To clinche the credibility of these events, we are asked to believe that her daughter, Gaella, died minutes after they were found by a trawler. By the way, she dumps Gaella overboard shortly before her ultimate rescue by a helicopter.

To me, the story just doesn't ring true and I didn't believe it. She admits in her story about having lied to the authorities shortly after her rescue but doesn't relate as to what those lies were. While the sailboat was found intact after her rescue I don't believe they ever found the body of her daughter nor Bernard.

The real mystery about this book is what really happened to Bernard, Gaella and the sailboat and this is only left with one's imagination.